Grid construction for rooflight



Oct. '20, 1953 G. H. LENKE 2,655,881

GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR ROOFLIGHT Filed Dec. 50, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 6J1. L enl W A orney Oct. 20, 1953 v G. H. LENKE GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR ROOFLIGHT Filed Dec. 30, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 6. E lenlw Inventor g y Oct. 20, 1953 e. H. LENKE 2,655,881

GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR ROOFLIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 30, 1949 Patented Oct. 20, 1953 GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR ROOFLIGHT George H. Lenke, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Julius J. Ohlis, Oak Park, Ill.

Application December 30, 1949, Serial No. 135,853

2 Claims.

This invention relates to grid construction for rooflights wherein the structural members thereof are extruded metallic elements arranged in intersecting, interlocking, and/or intercostal relation with each other to form a plurality of cells into each of which may be fitted a light transmitting member preferably of glass or equivalent transparent and/or translucent material, the invention having for its object to provide a roofligh-t which may be fabricated, and quickly and readily assembled, at a cost which'is no greater, if not appreciably less, than the cost of heretofore known constructions of similar character.

With this and other objects in view the invention resides in the'novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all of the views- Fig. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a rooflight made in accordance with this invention and showing one general arrangement of a plurality of light transmitting cells;

Fig. 2 is an exploded or separated view in perspective of the metallic elements adapted to have intersecting relation with each other to form the joint between adjoining cells as contemplated for single glazing;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views through portions of a rooflight,illustrating the details of construction and arrangements of parts of the members of said rooflight, as utilized for single glazing, Figs. 3 and 4 for example being views taken respectively on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an exploded or separated View in perspective, similar to Fig. 2, but showing the metallic elements as utilized for double glazing; and

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are vertical sectional views through portions of a roofiight, illustrating the details of construction and arrangements of parts of the members in double glazing.

In general, and with reference to Fig. 1, a rooflight comprises a frame of polygonal or other suitable shape having the border or side members such as 2, 3, 4 and 5 rigidly secured together at the corners of the frame, said frame adapted to fit and to be secured in (as usual) an opening in the roof or a wall of a building. Thus it is to be understood that the term "rooflight is generic, whether the frame is intended for use in a roof or other wall. of a building, and that a single wall opening may have one or more frames fitted thereto, as found most expedient. 7

According to its size, or area said frame is supplied with one or more spaced primary or main ribs such as 6, l and B, as well as with a'plurality of spaced secondary members such as indicated by the numerals 9, l0, H, l2 and' I3.

The main ribs areeach of fully between, and to have the ends thereof rigidly secured to, two opposite side frame members such as 2 and 4, and the secondary members may also extend fully between, and to have the ends thereof rigidly secured to, two other and opposite side frame-members such as 3 and 5. The main ribs preferably extend longitudinally of the frame, andthe secondary members intersect the main ribs as at I4, as well understood in this art; or each or some of the secondary members may have shorter lengths providing for intercostal relation with the main ribs in the same frame, all in accordance with particular and/or desired installations. Glazing is fitted into the light transmitting cells formed by the main ribs and the secondary members of the frame, and is secured in place by any suitable packing, cement, weather proofing material, etc., as used in this art; and any suitable finishing strip may be applied to armor, protect, or otherwise cover the joint between adjoin ng glazed cells, with the outer (and opposite innerfexposed surfaces of the rooflight being substantially planar or smooth.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 3 and 4 the frame side member 2 comprises a base plate portion 20, and-a wall portion 2! integrally formed therewith and extending angularly (rectangularly as shown) therefrom with itsfree edge portion a length to extend formed to provide a pocket or reglet 22 disposed inwardly of the frame, said pocket for receiving and anchoring an edge of a sheet of flashing 23 as usually provided for weatherproofing the frame with respect to the building wall opening. The base plate extends inwardly of the frame a sufficient distance to provide a seat 24 for an edge portion of a hollow glass block 25, there being provided an abutment 26 extending laterally from said base plate for limitably positioning said block on its seat. The pocket is so formed as to have its outward, extent terminate substantially in the plane of the outermost exposed surface of said block, and each frame side member is of similar transverse construction.

Each main rib such as 8 is continuous in length so as to span the frame from one side thereof to an opposite side, the opposite ends of each rib'being secured or anchored in any suitable manner to said frame, for example by welding or by the formation of a tongue 2! extending integrally from said rib end through a registering slot provided in the wall portion 2| of the frame side member 2 (see Fig. 3). The opposite ends of each rib preferably have their corners notched as indicated at 28 and 29 to pass or accommodate respectively the pocket 22 and the block abutment 26.

Each main rib in transverse section (see Fig. 4) is of inverted T-shape providing a base flange or head portion 39 and a web portion 3| integrally extending angularly therefrom from the portions 20 of the frame side members in a complete assemblage of parts. Each rib base portion is provided with similar abutmenta'such 'as' 33 and 34 adjacent the opposite edges thereof,

which are substantial duplicates fof and' for'the:

same purpose as the abutments 26, namely for limitably positioning adjacentglass blocks-onthe corresponding seats provided therefor, such asi-35 of said rib base portion.

From the .foregoing description and with particular reference to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be understood lthat the roofiight framing is'substanti'ally thesame depth as the glass .blocks fitted therein, but that the vertical height of each main rib 3i .isfless than the vertical extent of said blocks. This is to permit the use ofa finishing strip, gener'a'lly identified by the numeral 40, which is .of substantially T-shape in cross-section, with the lower edge portion ofthe web bifurcated as shown at 4| lto springingly snap over the bulbous upper edge portion '32 of the main rib, and the finishing strip is so dimensioned that its head portion 42 will lie in the plane of the upper surfaces of the glass blocks, thereby producing the checkered or panel 'effectshownin Fig. '1. To accomplish this panel effect, each finishing strip 40 'isof a length coextensive with a main rib, or in other words it extends from one side frame number 2 across the roofiight'to the oppositeside frame member 4, and similarbut shorter finishing strips such as 43 are disposed intercostally'with respect to .the long strips 48 but likewise .snappingly 'engageable with the bulbous upper edge of the secondary .memberssuch as .9, [3, etc. Thespace surrounding the glass blocks is .filled with .any suitable filling, insulating, .and/or packing substance as used in this art, wherefore thespecific nature or composition thereof-need not be specifically described, the said packing substance orsubstances extending cleanup to the upper planar surface of'the assembled roofiight and suitably-trowelled for a smooth finis'h,said packing naturally having weather-resisting qualities. Merely by way Of example, there may be provided an aggregate of an insulatihgconcrete applied around the sides of the glass blocks .and extending upwardly not above the top- .edge of the main ribs BI, and .therest of thespace above this-concrete fillingmay be filled} to the .top sur face of the glass blocks, with sealing compound similar .to a tar and sulphurcompositionashoretoforeused in roofiight structures.

The construction illustrated in Fig. .5 is utilized in the case where the roof or wall opening .is of such total area that it is desirable to'employ a plurality of rooflight frames disposed in sidewise adjacency as shown, there being created a space 44 therebetween to be filled with suitable packing material, there being provided a strip 45, of relatively thin metal, resting upon the-outward flanges of the adjacent frames, said stripserving as a floor for said packing material. Said strip preferably is bent so as to provide a .centrallongitudinally extending upwardly projecting rib 4.6 to compensatefor the'expansion and contraction of the packing material and/or of said strip all as-will be readily understood. A sheet or layer of sealing material 4'! is provided to cover-the upper portion of the space 44 between said --frames, :said sheet being of .suificient width so an aperture provided therefor;

that its opposite side edges may extend down into and be secured in the reglets or pockets such as -22 of saidframes as-shown, said'edges being anchoredin the'packing material utilized to seal said pockets.

Coming now to Fig. 6 there is illustrated an exploded view in perspective of a modification of thdconstruction hereinabove described, and which m dification is used when double glazing is desired, thesaid double glazing being particularly shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 and comprising the'-'aforementioned hollow glass blocks 25, andwsingle glass panes 50 in spaced relation thereto, to provide an intervening air space 5| serving to produce an insulating effect against temperature and sound. The principles and general construction heretofore described are substantially duplicated in this double glazing structure, but there .aresome departures therefrom which will now bedescribed in detail.

'In Fig. 7 the roofiight frame side members comprisetwo parts, the lowerpart being a substantial duplicate of the constructio shown for example at 2 in Fig. 3, but the upper'part is formed as a separate'entity identified by the-numeral '52 and carrying the pocket 22 forreceiving an edge of the flashing 23. These two parts may be secured together in any suitable manner such'as by the'lapped' joint shown at 53 with spot welding or screws. This upper part 52 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 54 so positioned as to serve "as a'support for an'edge portion of the glass pane 50 and to establish and maintain the insulating. space 5| between said pane 'andtheglass blocks 25.therebeneath.

In the assemblage of this construction, the glass blocks are positioned as shOWn in the lower part of theroofiig'htframe, and the packing material is applied around said blocks up to the plane of the uppermost edge of the lower part of said frame. Then the finishing stripssuch as 43 are fitted and'then the upper part Of'the frame is secured to th lowerv part and additional packing material is forced down under the fiange'54 and around the upper portion ofthe glass blocks as well as under and around the secondary finishing strips such as 33, said substanc being trowelled "off in the plane of the upper surfaces of said blocks and strips. Then the glass'panes 50 are put into place on their supporting flanges 5'4of the upper part of the rooflight frame and sealed in place -in the usual manner in this art, to provide the complete double glazed structure.

In.Figs. '9 and 10 are'illustr'ated modifications .of the heretofore described finishing strip construction particularly utilized at the joints between two adjacent single glass panes, and comprising a finishing strip having'two head portions which may be secured together for example as follows. According'to Fig. 9 the finishing strip 55 has an integral head 56 having a thickened area constituting a central boss 51 which .is tapped to receive the bolt'58. This head .56 'constitutesth'e support for the edges of the adjacent glass panes 5.0. A strip 5 9, similar in transverse cross sectional construction to the head 56, isiprovided to overlie the joint between said glass panes and to be held in placetosaid head by said bolt passing through Suitable sealing compound and/or packing is provided around the edge portions of said panes between the head 56 and saidstrip 59.

In Fig. l0'theifinishing strip 60 is also provided with ahead portion 6| serving as a support for the {glass-panes '5.0,'butin addition theweb of said strip is extended beyond said head as indicated at 62 and terminates in a bulbous edge adapted to be springingly engaged by :a complementally formed socket 63 in the central portion of a separate finishing strip 64 adapted to overlie the joint between said glass panes, with suitable sealing compound and/or packing as in the case just described in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 9.

As clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 the base portion at least of the supporting members having intercostal relation with the primary or main ribs of the rooflight, are provided with means for locking them to the corresponding base flanges 30 of said main ribs. That is to say, each intercostal supporting member such as 10 comprises a flat plate-like member in end abutting relation with a main rib or a frame side member, said plate 10 having a pair of upstanding rails such as H each spaced slightly inward- 1y from a longitudinal edge of said plate to form a trackway and to provide a seat 12 along said edge upon which a glass block rests, the opposing interfaces of said rails each being formed oblique- 1y with respect to the surface of the plate 10 whereby to provide a dove-tail transverse shape to slidably receive and hold a locking dog generally identified by the numeral 13. Said dog has a complemental dove-tail transverse shape to interlock with the dove-tail formation of the trackway of plate 10 and, when slidingly extended slightly beyond the end of said plate, said dog will assume a position overlying the seat 35 of the main rib and thus prevent displacement of the plate 10 from the plane of the base 30 of said main rib, resulting in a positive and continuous support for a glass block under each of its side bottom edges, as readily understood from the drawings. There is no necessity for the dovetail shape being given to the corresponding base member 30 of the main ribs, because each main rib is formed in one piece and of a length to extend clear across the rooflight frame and to be supported by the side members such as 2 and 4 of said frame by virtue of the abutments 2B and tongues 21. By supporting the intercostal plates 10 by the dogs 13, adjustability is provided for hollow glass blocks of varying dimensions, because said plates may be slid to positions commensurate with a dimension of the blocks used,

by virtue of the over-hanging locking dogs 13. The sealing or packing material when applied around the blocks, will contact the said dogs and the supporting intercostal plates, and prevent displacement of said dogs from their adjusted interlocking positions.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to form each of the various members of the rooflight assemblage of metal such as aluminum for cheapness as well as for lightness in weight, the transverse shape of each member being effected by extruding the molten metal through a forming die plate, whereby uniformity of shape is imparted to said members and no expensive rolling nor machining operations are necessary beyond the desired notching in accordance with the dimensions of the particular rooflight.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of this invention, wherefore it is desired not to be limited to the exact foregoing disclosure except as may be required by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rooflight comprising frame members having a common bottom plane, base flanges arranged in spaced parallelism between and connecting two opposed frame members at the bottoms of the latter, plates in spaced parallelism disposed between and connecting other frame members at the bottoms thereof and disposed at substantially right angles to said base flanges to provide a plurality of light transmitting cells, glazing blocks supported by said flanges and plates in spaced relationship in said cells, a main rib rising from each of said base flanges in the spaces between blocks, a finishing strip disposed in substantially the same plane with the upper faces of said blocks overlying each of said base flanges and connected to said ribs, a secondary member overlying and spaced a substantial distance above each of said plates and connecting said frame and rib members, and a finishing strip disposed in substantially the same plane with the said upper faces of said blocks overlying each of said plates and connected to said secondary members, the spaces between said plates and said secondary members adapted to receive insulating bonding material for anchoring said blocks and said secondary members and finishing strips.

2. A rooflight comprising side and end frame members having a common bottom plane, base flanges arranged in spaced parallelism connecting said end members at the bottoms of the latter, plates arranged in spaced parallelism disposed between and connecting said side members at the bottoms thereof and intersecting said base flanges to provide a plurality of light transmitting cells, glazing blocks resting at their edges upon adjacent edges of said base flanges and plates, a main rib integral with each of said base flanges substantially midway the lateral edges thereof and rising therefrom to a distance below the upper faces of said blocks, a finishing strip disposed in substantially the same plane with the upper faces of said blocks overlying said main rib, a second finishing strip overlying each of said plates in substantially the same plane with the upper faces of said blocks, a secondary member connecting side and rib members overlying each of said plates and spaced a substantial distance above said plates to provide spaces for reception of bonding insulating material, and means depending from said finishing strips to engage and interlock respectively with the underlying main ribs and secondary members.

GEORGE H. LENKE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 405,778 Jackson June 25, 1889 640,840 Wadsworth Jan. 9, 1900 705,372 Androvette July 22, 1902 991,465 Gilmer May 2, 1911 1,573,756 Wright Feb. 16, 1926 1,832,847 Lane Nov. 24, 1931 1,940,968 Ohlis Dec. 26, 1933 2,140,998 Hohl Dec. 20, 1938 2,199,244 Mulford Apr. 30, 1940 2,314,238 Ohlis Mar. 16, 1943 2,599,811 Clerk June 10, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 354,959 Great Britain 1931 

